Wavelength conversion device and lighting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wavelength conversion device for laser light including a laser light source that emits laser light having a predetermined wavelength; a first substrate that is light-transmissive; a second substrate that is light-transmissive; a phosphor layer provided between and in surface contact with the first substrate and the second substrate, the phosphor layer converting a wavelength of the laser light; and a gap-maintaining component located between the first substrate and the second substrate, the gap-maintaining component adjusting a thickness of the phosphor layer by maintaining a uniform distance between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each of the first substrate and the second substrate has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the phosphor layer. The gap-maintaining component is a plurality of thickness adjustment particles that are light-transmissive and have a shape having a substantially equal diameter, and the shape is one of wire-shaped, ring-shaped, and protruding.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/322,145,filed Jan. 31, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,677,437, which is a nationalstage of International Application No. PCT/JP2017/033194, filed Sep. 14,2017, which claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2016-184845,filed on Sep. 21, 2016, and Japanese Application No. 2016-192299, filedSep. 29, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated in theirentirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wavelength conversion device and alighting apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

There are lights which use a solid-state light source. Such lightsproduce white light by irradiating a phosphor layer containing phosphorswith light emitted by the solid-state light source, and emit the whitelight. For example, in the case where the light is blue light, thephosphors cause yellow light resulting from excitation by one part ofthe blue light and the other part of the blue light that is transmittedto disperse; thus, the lights can produce white light obtained throughthe color mixing of these lights by irradiating the phosphor layer withthe blue light emitted by the solid-state light source.

For example, Patent Literature (PTL 1) discloses an LED which emitswhite light from phosphors and a layered semiconductor structure which,as a solid-state light source, emits ultraviolet light. In PTL 1, usingan epoxy or silicone resin containing phosphors, a phosphor layer isformed on one principal surface of a sapphire substrate on which thelayered semiconductor structure has not been formed.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.    2007-142318

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

With the structure disclosed in the aforementioned background art,however, a rise in the temperature of the phosphor layer cannot besufficiently suppressed, and thus there is the problem that it isdifficult to achieve high output by the lighting apparatus. Stateddifferently, the phosphor has a thermal quenching property in whichwavelength conversion efficiency deteriorates with increasingtemperature. With the structure disclosed in the aforementionedbackground art, the region of the phosphor layer which is irradiatedwith the light generates much heat and becomes hot. Therefore, in orderto achieve high output by the lighting apparatus, it is necessary tosuppress the rise in temperature of the phosphor layer.

The present invention is conceived in view of the above-describedproblem and has an object to provide a wavelength conversion devicecapable of achieving high output by suppressing the rise in temperatureof a phosphor layer, and a lighting apparatus using the waveformconversion device.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the aforementioned object, a wavelength conversiondevice according to an aspect of the present invention is a wavelengthconversion device for laser light including a laser light source thatemits laser light having a predetermined wavelength; a first substratethat is light-transmissive; a second substrate that islight-transmissive; a phosphor layer provided between and in surfacecontact with the first substrate and the second substrate, the phosphorlayer converting a wavelength of the laser light; and a gap-maintainingcomponent located between the first substrate and the second substrate,the gap-maintaining component adjusting a thickness of the phosphorlayer by maintaining a uniform distance between the first substrate andthe second substrate. Each of the first substrate and the secondsubstrate has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivityof the phosphor layer. The gap-maintaining component is a plurality ofthickness adjustment particles that are light-transmissive and have ashape having a substantially equal diameter, and the shape is one ofwire-shaped, ring-shaped, and protruding.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned object, a lightingapparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a lightingapparatus which uses the wavelength conversion device described above.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

The wavelength conversion device, etc., according to an aspect of thepresent invention is capable of achieving high output while reducingthermal load on the phosphor layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting apparatus inwhich a wavelength conversion device in Embodiment 1 is used.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus illustratedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting apparatus in which awavelength conversion device in a comparative example is used.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an analyticalmodel of a wavelength conversion device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a Z plane cross-sectionalview of the analytical model illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an analytical model of a wavelengthconversion device in a comparative example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing an analytical model of a wavelengthconversion device in a working example.

FIG. 8A is a diagram for describing temperature distributions on across-section of wavelength conversion devices in a working example anda comparative example.

FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a laser irradiation power density.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of analysis results in aworking example and a comparative example in the case where a phosphorlayer has a heat value of 1 W.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of analysis results in aworking example and a comparative example in the case where a phosphorlayer has heat values of 3 W and 5 W.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting apparatus inwhich a wavelength conversion device in Embodiment 2 is used.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus illustratedin FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a wavelength conversion device inEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting apparatus in which awavelength conversion device in Comparative Example 1 of Embodiment 2 isused.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a wavelength conversion device inComparative Example 1 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a wavelengthconversion device in a variation of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of materials included in aphosphor layer in a variation of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement example ofthickness adjustment particles contained in the phosphor layerillustrated in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement example ofthickness adjustment particles contained in a phosphor layer inComparative Example 2 of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of agap-maintaining component in a variation of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of agap-maintaining component in a variation of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of agap-maintaining component in a variation of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting apparatus inwhich a wavelength conversion device in Embodiment 3 is used.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus illustratedin FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing white light emitted by a wavelengthconversion device in a comparative example of Embodiment 3.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for describing white light emitted by a wavelengthconversion device in Embodiment 3.

FIG. 28 is another cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatusillustrated in FIG. 24.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing white light emitted by a wavelengthconversion device in Variation 1 of Embodiment 3.

FIG. 30 is another cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatusillustrated in FIG. 24.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing white light emitted by a wavelengthconversion device in Variation 2 of Embodiment 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to thedrawings. Each of the embodiments described herein shows a specificexample of the present invention. Therefore, numerical values, shapes,materials, structural components, the arrangement and connection of thestructural components, steps (processes), the sequence of the steps,etc. shown in the following embodiments are mere examples, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention. Among thestructural components in the following embodiments, structuralcomponents not recited in the independent claims are described asstructural components that can be arbitrarily added. Furthermore, therespective figures are schematic diagrams and are not necessarilyprecise illustrations.

Embodiment 1

[Lighting Apparatus]

Hereinafter, a lighting apparatus will be described first as an exampleof an application product using a wavelength conversion device in thisembodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of lighting apparatus 1 inwhich wavelength conversion device 10 in this embodiment is used. FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus illustrated in FIG.1.

Lighting apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is used, for example, for anendoscope, a fiberscope, a spotlight, or a fishing net, produces whitelight from laser light having a predetermined wavelength included in awavelength range from ultraviolet light to visible light, and emits thewhite light.

In this embodiment, lighting apparatus 1 includes wavelength conversiondevice 10, heat-dissipating plate 11, and heat-dissipating plate 12. Asolid-state light source is a laser light source which emits blue laserlight as laser light having a predetermined wavelength, and includes alaser diode (LD) which emits blue laser light, for example.

[Heat-Dissipating Plate 11]

Heat-dissipating plate 11 is a component that has opening 111 in aposition overlapping a portion of wavelength conversion device 10 atwhich phosphor layer 102 is provided and dissipates, to the outside oflighting apparatus 1, heat generated at wavelength conversion device 10.Heat-dissipating plate 11 is disposed in surface contact with wavelengthconversion device 10, at the end of lighting apparatus 1 (on theincidence side in the figure) on which laser light (L1 in the figure) isincident. Heat-dissipating plate 11 is formed, for example, using amaterial having a high thermal conductivity such as Al. Note that asurface of heat-dissipating plate 11 may be formed having ridges andgrooves. This is because it is possible to improve the efficiency indissipating heat to the outside of lighting apparatus 1 by increasingthe surface area of heat-dissipating plate 11.

Opening 111 is for allowing laser light emitted from the laser lightsource which is a solid-state light source to pass to wavelengthconversion device 10. Opening 111 is located on an optical path of thelaser light emitted from the laser light source. In this way, the laserlight emitted from the laser light source can reach wavelengthconversion device 10 through opening 111.

[Heat-Dissipating Plate 12]

Heat-dissipating plate 12 is a component that has opening 121 in aposition overlapping the portion of wavelength conversion device 10 atwhich phosphor layer 102 is provided and dissipates, to the outside oflighting apparatus 1, heat generated at wavelength conversion device 10.Heat-dissipating plate 12 is disposed in surface contact with wavelengthconversion device 10, at the end (on the emission side in the figure) onwhich white light (L2 in the figure) is emitted, and heat-dissipatingplate 12 is formed, for example, using a material having a high thermalconductivity such as Al. Note that a surface of heat-dissipating plate12 may be formed having ridges and grooves. This is because it ispossible to improve the efficiency in dissipating heat to the outside oflighting apparatus 1 by increasing the surface area of heat-dissipatingplate 12.

Opening 121 is for allowing passage of the white light emitted fromwavelength conversion device 10 so that the white light is emitted tothe outside of lighting apparatus 1. Opening 121 is located on anoptical path of the laser light emitted from the laser light source. Inthis way, the white light emitted from wavelength conversion device 10can be emitted to the outside of lighting apparatus 1 through opening121.

[Wavelength Conversion Device 10]

As illustrated in FIG. 2, wavelength conversion device 10, which is awavelength conversion device for laser light, includes first substrate101, phosphor layer 102, and second substrate 103. Note that whenlighting apparatus 1 is used for an endoscope or the like, wavelengthconversion device 10 corresponds to a light source means which useslaser light.

(First Substrate 101)

First substrate 101 is irradiated with laser light that has been emittedfrom the laser light source and passed through opening 111 ofheat-dissipating plate 11. First substrate 101 includes a portion onwhich phosphor layer 102 is provided. The case where phosphor layer 102is provided on first substrate 101 by being applied to first substrate101 will be described as an example, but the method for providingphosphor layer 102 on first substrate 101 is not limited to thisexample.

First substrate 101 is light-transmissive. Here, first substrate 101 maybe transparent with no light absorption. In other words, first substrate101 may be formed from a material having a substantially 0 extinctioncoefficient. This is because the amount of laser light transmitted byfirst substrate 101 can increase accordingly, and, as a result, theamount of light emitted from lighting apparatus 1 to the surroundingsthereof can increase.

The thermal conductivity of first substrate 101 is higher than thethermal conductivity of phosphor layer 102. Here, first substrate 101may be a sapphire substrate, for example. Note that as the materialforming first substrate 101, it is possible to use anylight-transmissive material having a thermal conductivity higher thanthat of phosphor layer 102 such as ZnO single crystal, AlN, Y₂O₃, SiC,polycrystalline alumina, and GaN.

Furthermore, first substrate 101 is thermally connected to an externalheat-dissipating component. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, firstsubstrate 101 is disposed in surface contact with heat-dissipating plate11 as the external heat-dissipating component and is thermally connectedthereto. This allows first substrate 101 to more efficiently dissipatethe heat generated at phosphor layer 102 to the outside of lightingapparatus 1 via heat-dissipating plate 11.

(Second Substrate 103)

Second substrate 103 includes a portion on which phosphor layer 102 isprovided and is irradiated with white light emitted from phosphor layer102. Second substrate 103 allows the emitted white light to passtherethrough and be emitted to opening 121 of heat-dissipating plate 12.

Second substrate 103 is light-transmissive. Here, second substrate 103may be transparent with no light absorption. In other words, secondsubstrate 103 may be formed from a material having a substantially 0extinction coefficient. This is because the amount of white lighttransmitted by second substrate 103 can increase accordingly, and, as aresult, the amount of light emitted from lighting apparatus 1 to thesurroundings thereof can increase.

The thermal conductivity of second substrate 103 is higher than thethermal conductivity of phosphor layer 102. Here, second substrate 103may be a sapphire substrate, for example. Note that as the materialforming second substrate 103, it is possible to use anylight-transmissive material having a thermal conductivity higher thanthat of phosphor layer 102 such as ZnO single crystal, AlN, Y₂O₃, SiC,polycrystalline alumina, and GaN.

Furthermore, second substrate 103 may be thermally connected to anexternal heat-dissipating component. In the example illustrated in FIG.2, second substrate 103 is disposed in surface contact withheat-dissipating plate 12 as the external heat-dissipating component andis thermally connected thereto. This allows second substrate 103 to moreefficiently dissipate the heat generated at phosphor layer 102 to theoutside of lighting apparatus 1 via heat-dissipating plate 12. Note thatsecond substrate 103 does not need to be thermally connected to anexternal heat-dissipating component. This is because second substrate103 even in the state of being not connected to an externalheat-dissipating component or the like has the effect of dispersing theheat of phosphor layer 102.

(Phosphor Layer 102)

Phosphor layer 102 is provided between and in surface contact with firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103. Phosphor layer 102 converts thewavelength of the laser light having a predetermined wavelength emittedthereto from the laser light source. Phosphor layer 102 generates heatat the time of color conversion of light.

In this embodiment, phosphor layer 102 has a wavelength-convertingfunction of converting the color (wavelength) of laser light.Specifically, phosphor layer 102 receives the blue laser light emittedfrom the laser light source, produces white light that is obtainedthrough the color mixing of yellow light resulting from conversion ofpart of the received blue laser light and the remaining part of saidblue laser light, and emits the white light. As illustrated in FIG. 2,phosphor layer 102 is formed in a tabular shape, for example.

Phosphor layer 102 contains a plurality of phosphors (phosphorparticles) which receive the blue laser light emitted from the laserlight source and emit yellow light, and is formed with a sealing resinsealing the plurality of phosphors. The phosphors (phosphor particles)are, for example, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor particles. Thesealing resin is, for example, a resin such as silicone or liquid glass.Note that heat dissipation may be enhanced by mixing with the sealingresin a material having a high thermal conductivity, for example, aninorganic oxide such as ZnO.

Phosphor layer 102 configured as described above generates heat at thetime of color conversion of light, but has a thermal quenching propertyin which wavelength conversion efficiency deteriorates with increasingtemperature. Therefore, heat dissipation of phosphor layer 102 is veryimportant. In this embodiment, as a result of including second substrate103 in addition to first substrate 101, the heat generated by phosphorlayer 102 can be properly dissipated to the outside of wavelengthconversion device 10. In other words, with first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103, wavelength conversion device 10 in this embodimentcan further suppress the rise in temperature of phosphor layer 102.

Furthermore, with wavelength conversion device 10, the heat dissipationeffect depends on the size of the spot diameter (also referred to as anincidence spot diameter) of the light emitted to first substrate 101; ahigher heat dissipation effect is obtained with decreasing incidencespot diameter (with increasing irradiation energy). Thus, in thisembodiment, when a laser light source which emits laser light having apredetermined wavelength and a laser irradiation power density of atleast 0.03 W/mm² is used as the solid-state light source, the rise intemperature of phosphor layer 102 is further suppressed. Note that thelaser irradiation power density of the laser light may be 0.22 W/mm² ormore.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

As described above, in this embodiment, the heat dissipation effect canbe increased; therefore, it is possible to provide wavelength conversiondevice 10 for laser light which is capable of achieving high output bysuppressing the rise in temperature of phosphor layer 102, and lightingapparatus 1 using waveform conversion device 10.

Here, the advantageous effects of wavelength conversion device 10according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3.FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting apparatus in whichwavelength conversion device 90 in a comparative example is used. Notethat the same numerical reference marks are assigned to components thatare the same as or similar to those in FIG. 2, and detailed descriptionthereof will be omitted.

In the comparative example illustrated in FIG. 3, an example ofwavelength conversion device 90 including first substrate 901 andphosphor layer 902 is illustrated. Here, first substrate 901 islight-transmissive and includes a portion coated by phosphor layer 902.As a material forming first substrate 901, any material such as glassand plastic can be used, for example. Phosphor layer 902 is provided onfirst substrate 901. Wavelength conversion device 90 is irradiated withlight (L91 in the figure) having a predetermined wavelength emitted froman LED light source. Specifically, wavelength conversion device 90 inthe comparative example does not include the second substrate, butincludes first substrate 901 only, and, furthermore, phosphor layer 902is irradiated with light having a predetermined wavelength emitted froman LED light source, instead of the laser light. Note that phosphorlayer 902 emits white light (L92 in the figure) resulting from color(wavelength) conversion of the light having a predetermined wavelengthemitted from the LED light source.

Since wavelength conversion device 90 does not include the secondsubstrate, phosphor layer 902 is unable to efficiently dissipate, to theoutside, heat generated in a region irradiated with the light.Furthermore, in wavelength conversion device 90, first substrate 901 isirradiated with the light having a predetermined wavelength emitted fromthe LED light source, instead of the laser light, and thus the spotdiameter (incidence spot diameter) of the light emitted to firstsubstrate 101 is larger than that of the laser light, meaning that ahigh heat dissipation effect cannot be obtained. Accordingly, with theconfiguration of wavelength conversion device 90 in the comparativeexample, the rise in temperature of phosphor layer 902 cannot besuppressed, and thus there is the problem that it is not possible toachieve high output.

In contrast, in wavelength conversion device 10 in this embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2, for example, phosphor layer 102 is applied tofirst substrate 101 in such a manner that phosphor layer 102 issandwiched between first substrate 101 and second substrate 103; in thisway, wavelength conversion device 10 is produced. Furthermore, inwavelength conversion device 10, laser light having a predeterminedwavelength and a laser irradiation power density of at least 0.03 W/mm²is used as light having a small incidence spot diameter which leads to ahigh heat dissipation effect.

These allow wavelength conversion device 10 in this embodiment toincrease the heat dissipation effect and thus suppress the rise intemperature of phosphor layer 102. Accordingly, wavelength conversiondevice 10 in this embodiment can inhibit luminance saturation even whenthe intensity of light emitted to phosphor layer 102 increases, and thusachieves high output.

As described above, wavelength conversion device 10 according to thisembodiment is a wavelength conversion device for laser light andincludes: first substrate 101 which is light-transmissive; secondsubstrate 103 which is light-transmissive; and phosphor layer 102 whichis provided between and in surface contact with first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103, and converts the wavelength of incident laserlight having a predetermined wavelength from a laser light source. Thelaser light has a laser irradiation power density of at least 0.03W/mm², and the thermal conductivity of each of first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103 is higher than the thermal conductivity of phosphorlayer 102.

With this, the heat dissipation effect can be increased; thus, it ispossible to provide wavelength conversion device 10 for laser lightwhich is capable of achieving high output by suppressing the rise intemperature of phosphor layer 102.

Furthermore, for example, second substrate 103 may be thermallyconnected to an external heat-dissipating component.

With this, the heat dissipation effect can be further increased; thus,it is possible to further suppress the rise in temperature of phosphorlayer 102.

Here, each of the first substrate and the second substrate may be asapphire substrate, for example.

With this, the heat dissipation effect can be further increased; thus,it is possible to further suppress the rise in temperature of phosphorlayer 102.

Furthermore, the laser light may have a laser irradiation power densityof at least 0.22 W/mm², for example.

With this, the heat dissipation effect can be further increased; thus,it is possible to further suppress the rise in temperature of phosphorlayer 102.

Furthermore, for example, the laser light source may emit blue laserlight as laser light having a predetermined wavelength, and phosphorlayer 102 may convert the wavelength of part of the blue laser lightinto light in a wavelength range representing yellow light.

With this, wavelength conversion device 10 can produce white light byconverting the wavelength of the blue laser light.

Working Example

Next, simulation evaluation results of the heat transmitting propertiesof wavelength conversion device 10 configured as described above will bedescribed as a working example.

[Analytical Model]

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an analyticalmodel of a wavelength conversion device. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagramillustrating a Z plane cross-sectional view of analytical model 1 aillustrated in FIG. 4.

Analytical model 1 a illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 includes:heat-dissipating plate 11 a having opening 111 a; and heat-dissipatingplate 12 a having opening 121 a, and wavelength conversion device 90 ain the comparative example or wavelength conversion device 10 a in theworking example is disposed (in region K in the figure) betweenheat-dissipating plate 11 a and heat-dissipating plate 12 a. Analyticalmodel 1 a corresponds to a schematic analytical model of lightingapparatus 1 described above in Embodiment 1. Note that FIG. 5 shows thecase where wavelength conversion device 90 a in the comparative exampleis disposed. Heat-dissipating plate 11 a is designed to include aluminumA5052 having a thermal conductivity of 138 W/mK and have a size of 20mm×70 mm with a thickness of 50 mm. Heat-dissipating plate 12 a isdesigned to include aluminum A5052 having a thermal conductivity of 138W/mK and have a size of 20 mm×70 mm with a thickness of 20 mm. Each ofopening 111 a and opening 121 a is designed to have a size of φ9 mm.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an analytical model of wavelengthconversion device 90 a in the comparative example. Wavelength conversiondevice 90 a in the comparative example illustrated in FIG. 6 includesfirst substrate 901 a and phosphor layer 902 a, and the analytical modelassumes the case where the blue laser light is emitted thereto.Wavelength conversion device 90 a in the comparative example correspondsto the analytical model of wavelength conversion device 90 in thecomparative example described above in Embodiment 1. Here, firstsubstrate 901 a is designed to be formed of a sapphire substrate havinga thermal conductivity of 42 W/mK and have a size of 10 mm×10 mm with athickness of 0.3 mm. Phosphor layer 902 a is designed to have anequivalent thermal conductivity of 3 W/mK and have a thickness of φ9 mmwith a thickness of 0.03 mm. Heat-dissipating plates 11 a and 12 a andfirst substrate 901 a are brought into contact with each other viasilver paste having a thermal conductivity of 5 W/mK. Note that FIG. 6schematically illustrates region A on phosphor layer 902 a irradiatedwith the blue laser light.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing an analytical model of wavelengthconversion device 10 a in this working example. Wavelength conversiondevice 10 a in the working example illustrated in FIG. 7 includes firstsubstrate 101 a, phosphor layer 102 a, and second substrate 103 a, andthe analytical model assumes the case where the blue laser light isemitted thereto. Wavelength conversion device 10 a in the workingexample corresponds to the analytical model of wavelength conversiondevice 10 described above in Embodiment 1. Here, similar to firstsubstrate 901, each of first substrate 101 a and second substrate 103 ais designed to be formed of a sapphire substrate having a thermalconductivity of 42 W/mK and have a size of 10 mm×10 mm with a thicknessof 0.3 mm. Similar to phosphor layer 902 a, phosphor layer 102 a isdesigned to have an equivalent thermal conductivity of 3 W/mK and have athickness of φ9 mm with a thickness of 0.03 mm. Heat-dissipating plate11 a and first substrate 101 a is brought into contact withheat-dissipating plate 12 a and second substrate 103 a via silver pastehaving a thermal conductivity of 5 W/mK.

[Analysis Results]

Next, analysis results obtained through a simulation will be described.In a simulation, analytical model 1 a is placed in an environment at atemperature of 30° C. in the state where a laser diode emits blue laserlight, and the temperature of the phosphor layer in a steady state wherethe temperature of each portion of analytical model 1 a substantiallyhas a constant value (that is, the state where the temperature of eachportion is saturated) is analyzed (evaluated).

FIG. 8A is a diagram for describing temperature distributions on across-section of the wavelength conversion devices in the workingexample and the comparative example. FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged viewof FIG. 8A. FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a laser irradiation powerdensity. In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the temperature distributions on thecross-section of the wavelength conversion devices in the workingexample and the comparative example in which the incidence spot diameterof the blue laser light is φ0.3 mm and φ7 mm, in other words, the laserirradiation power density is 21.76 W/mm² and 0.04 W/mm², are illustratedas analysis results obtained through the simulation. It is assumed thatthe phosphor layer has a heat value of 1 W. Here, the laser irradiationpower density is a value obtained by dividing the energy [W] of bluelaser light L1 emitted from the laser diode, as illustrated in FIG. 9,by the area [mm²] of the emission side (laser irradiation area 1022) ofphosphor layer 102 which is irradiated with the blue laser light. Thislaser irradiation power density can be derived from a) the output [W] ofthe laser diode and b) the spot diameter [mm].

As illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, when the laser irradiation powerdensity is 21.76 W/mm², the highest value of the temperature of phosphorlayer 102 a in the working example is 90.66 degrees, and the highestvalue of the temperature of phosphor layer 902 a in the comparativeexample is 176.16 degrees. When the laser irradiation power density is0.04 W/mm², the highest value of the temperature of phosphor layer 102 ain the working example is 41.82 degrees, and the highest value of thetemperature of phosphor layer 902 a in the comparative example is 46.18degrees.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of analysis results in theworking example and the comparative example in the case where thephosphor layer has a heat value of 1 W. The graph illustrated in FIG. 10is obtained by connecting plotted temperatures of the phosphor layerobtained when the spot diameter of the blue laser light is φ0.3 mm, φ3mm, φ7 mm, and φ8.41 mm, in other words, the laser irradiation powerdensity is 21. 76 W/mm², 0.22 W/mm², 0.04 W/mm², and 0.03 W/mm².

FIG. 10 shows that when the laser irradiation power density is at least0.03 W/mm², the temperature of phosphor layer 102 a in wavelengthconversion device 10 a according to the working example is lower thanthat of phosphor layer 902 a in wavelength conversion device 90 aaccording to the comparative example. This shows that by using the bluelaser light having a laser irradiation power density of at least 0.03W/mm², the rise in temperature of phosphor layer 102 a can be furthersuppressed. Furthermore, the graph of the working example illustrated inFIG. 10 shows that the heat dissipation effect of wavelength conversiondevice 10 a increases as the laser irradiation power density increases,in other words, the spot diameter (incidence spot diameter) of the laserlight which is emitted to first substrate 101 a is reduced. Aninflection point is found in the vicinity of the laser irradiation powerdensity of 0.22 W/mm², showing that by using the blue laser light havinglaser irradiation power density of 0.22 W/mm², the rise in temperatureof phosphor layer 102 a can be further suppressed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of analysis results in theworking example and the comparative example in the case where thephosphor layer has heat values of 3 W and 5 W. FIG. 11 illustrates therelationship between the laser irradiation power density and thephosphor temperature in the working example and the comparative examplein the case where the phosphor layer has heat values of 3 W and 5 W.Furthermore, FIG. 11 illustrates the relationship between the laserirradiation power density and the phosphor temperature in the workingexample in the case where the phosphor layer has a heat value of 1 W.Similar to FIG. 10, the graph illustrated in FIG. 11 is obtained byconnecting plotted temperatures of the phosphor layer obtained when thespot diameter of the blue laser light is φ0.3 mm, φ3 mm, φ7 mm, andφ8.41 mm, in other words, the laser irradiation power density is 21. 76W/mm², 0.22 W/mm², 0.04 W/mm², and 0.03 W/mm².

FIG. 11 shows the same findings as with FIG. 10. Specifically, FIG. 11shows that when the laser irradiation power density is at least 0.03W/mm², the temperature of phosphor layer 102 a in wavelength conversiondevice 10 a according to the working example is lower than that ofphosphor layer 902 a in wavelength conversion device 90 a according tothe comparative example. Furthermore, FIG. 11 shows that the heatdissipation effect of wavelength conversion device 10 a increases as thelaser irradiation power density increases, in other words, the spotdiameter (incidence spot diameter) of the laser light which is emittedto first substrate 101 a is reduced. An inflection point is found in thevicinity of the laser irradiation power density of 0.22 W/mm², showingthat by using the blue laser light having a laser irradiation powerdensity of 0.22 W/mm², the rise in temperature of phosphor layer 102 acan be further suppressed.

The above analysis results show that in this embodiment, by using theblue laser light having a laser irradiation power density of at least0.03 W/mm², the rise in temperature of phosphor layer 102 a can befurther suppressed. Note that the blue laser light having a laserirradiation power density of at least 0.22 W/mm² may be used.

Embodiment 2

Another problem with the technique disclosed in PTL 1 is that accuratelymanaging the thickness of the phosphor layer is difficult. Stateddifferently, in related art such as that disclosed in PTL 1, there isthe problem that the thickness of the phosphor layer varies among LEDs.Therefore, in the case where a lighting apparatus in which the laserlight source is used as the solid-state light source is produced usingthe related art such as that disclosed in PTL 1, the emission spectrumof the phosphor layer varies according to variation in the thickness ofthe phosphor layer among lighting apparatuses.

In this embodiment, a wavelength conversion device for laser light whichis capable of reducing variation in the thickness of a phosphor layerand a lighting apparatus using the wavelength conversion device forlaser light will be further described.

[Lighting Apparatus]

Hereinafter, a lighting apparatus will be described first as an exampleof an application product using a wavelength conversion device in thisembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of lighting apparatus 1B inwhich wavelength conversion device 20 in this embodiment is used. FIG.13 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus illustrated inFIG. 12. Note that the same numerical reference marks are assigned tocomponents that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 1 and FIG.2.

Lighting apparatus 1B illustrated in FIG. 12 is used, for example, foran endoscope, a fiberscope, a spotlight, or a fishing net, produceswhite light from laser light having a predetermined wavelength includedin a wavelength range from ultraviolet light to visible light, and emitsthe white light.

In this embodiment, lighting apparatus 1B includes wavelength conversiondevice 20, heat-dissipating plate 11, and heat-dissipating plate 12. Asolid-state light source is a laser light source which emits blue laserlight as the laser light having a predetermined wavelength.

[Heat-Dissipating Plate 11]

Heat-dissipating plate 11 is a component that has opening 111 in aposition overlapping a portion of wavelength conversion device 20 atwhich phosphor layer 202 is provided and dissipates, to the outside oflighting apparatus 1B, heat generated at wavelength conversion device20. Heat-dissipating plate 11 is disposed in surface contact withwavelength conversion device 20, at the end of lighting apparatus 1B (onthe incidence side in the figure) on which laser light (L1 in thefigure) is incident. Heat-dissipating plate 11 is formed, for example,using a material having a high thermal conductivity such as Al. Notethat a surface of heat-dissipating plate 11 may be formed having ridgesand grooves. This is because it is possible to improve the efficiency indissipating heat to the outside of lighting apparatus 1B by increasingthe surface area of heat-dissipating plate 11.

Opening 111 is for allowing laser light emitted from the laser lightsource which is a solid-state light source to pass to wavelengthconversion device 20. Opening 111 is located on an optical path of thelaser light emitted from the laser light source. In this way, the laserlight emitted from the laser light source can reach wavelengthconversion device 20 through opening 111.

[Heat-Dissipating Plate 12]

Heat-dissipating plate 12 is a component that has opening 121 in aposition overlapping the portion of wavelength conversion device 20 atwhich phosphor layer 202 is provided and dissipates, to the outside oflighting apparatus 1B, heat generated at wavelength conversion device20. Heat-dissipating plate 12 is disposed in surface contact withwavelength conversion device 20, at the end (on the emission side in thefigure) on which white light (L2 in the figure) is emitted, andheat-dissipating plate 12 is formed, for example, using a materialhaving a high thermal conductivity such as Al. Note that a surface ofheat-dissipating plate 12 may be formed having ridges and grooves. Thisis because it is possible to improve the efficiency in dissipating heatto the outside of lighting apparatus 1B by increasing the surface areaof heat-dissipating plate 12.

Opening 121 is for allowing passage of the white light emitted fromwavelength conversion device 20 so that the white light is emitted tothe outside of lighting apparatus 1B. Opening 121 is located on anoptical path of the laser light emitted from the laser light source. Inthis way, the white light emitted from wavelength conversion device 20can be emitted to the outside of lighting apparatus 1B through opening121.

[Wavelength Conversion Device 101]

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of wavelength conversion device 20 inthis embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, wavelength conversion device 20,which is a wavelength conversion device for laser light, includes firstsubstrate 101, phosphor layer 202, and second substrate 103.Furthermore, wavelength conversion device 20 includes a gap-maintainingcomponent which adjusts the thickness of phosphor layer 202 betweenfirst substrate 101 and second substrate 103. Note that when lightingapparatus 1B is used for an endoscope or the like, wavelength conversiondevice 20 corresponds to a light source means which uses laser light.

(First Substrate 101)

First substrate 101 is irradiated with laser light that has been emittedfrom the laser light source and passed through opening 111 ofheat-dissipating plate 11. First substrate 101 includes a portion onwhich phosphor layer 202 is provided. The case where phosphor layer 202is provided on first substrate 101 by being applied to first substrate101 will be described as an example, but the method for providingphosphor layer 202 on first substrate 101 is not limited to thisexample.

First substrate 101 is light-transmissive. Here, first substrate 101 maybe transparent with no light absorption. In other words, first substrate101 may be formed from a material having a substantially 0 extinctioncoefficient. This is because the amount of laser light transmitted byfirst substrate 101 can increase accordingly, and, as a result, theamount of light emitted from lighting apparatus 1B to the surroundingsthereof can increase.

The thermal conductivity of first substrate 101 is higher than thethermal conductivity of phosphor layer 202. As the material formingfirst substrate 101, it is possible to use any light-transmissivematerial having a thermal conductivity higher than that of phosphorlayer 202 such as sapphire, ZnO single crystal, AlN, Y₂O₃, SiC,polycrystalline alumina, and GaN.

(Second Substrate 103)

Second substrate 103 includes a portion on which phosphor layer 202 isprovided and is irradiated with white light emitted from phosphor layer202. Second substrate 103 allows the emitted white light to passtherethrough and be emitted to opening 112 of heat-dissipating plate 12.

Second substrate 103 is light-transmissive. Here, second substrate 103may be transparent with no light absorption. In other words, secondsubstrate 103 may be formed from a material having a substantially 0extinction coefficient. This is because the amount of white lighttransmitted by second substrate 103 can increase accordingly, and, as aresult, the amount of light emitted from lighting apparatus 1B to thesurroundings thereof can increase.

The thermal conductivity of second substrate 103 is higher than thethermal conductivity of phosphor layer 202. As the material formingsecond substrate 103, it is possible to use any light-transmissivematerial having a thermal conductivity higher than that of phosphorlayer 202 such as sapphire, ZnO single crystal, AlN, Y₂O₃, SiC,polycrystalline alumina, and GaN.

(Phosphor Layer 202)

Phosphor layer 202 is provided between and in surface contact with firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103. Phosphor layer 202 includesphosphor 2022 which converts the wavelength of the laser light having apredetermined wavelength emitted thereto from the laser light source.Note that phosphor layer 202 generates heat at the time of colorconversion of light. Here, the gap-maintaining component is a pluralityof light-transmissive thickness adjustment particles 2021 havingsubstantially equal diameters, and the plurality of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021 are contained in phosphor layer 202.

In this embodiment, phosphor layer 202 has a wavelength-convertingfunction of converting the color (wavelength) of laser light. Morespecifically, phosphor layer 202 receives the blue laser light emittedfrom the laser light source, produces white light that is obtainedthrough the color mixing of yellow light resulting from conversion ofpart of the received blue laser light by phosphor 2022 and the remainingpart of said blue laser light, and emits the white light. As illustratedin FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, phosphor layer 202 is formed in a tabular shape,for example, and contains the plurality of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021, the plurality of phosphors 2022, and sealing resin 2023.

Phosphor 2022 receives the blue laser light emitted from the laser lightsource and emits the yellow light. The plurality of phosphor 2022 are,for example, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor particles.

Sealing resin 2023 is a resin such as silicone or liquid glass and sealsphosphor 2022 in phosphor layer 202. Furthermore, sealing resin 2023seals thickness adjustment particles 2021. Note that sealing resin 2023may be mixed with a material having a high thermal conductivity, forexample, an inorganic oxide such as ZnO to enhance heat dissipation.

The plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021 arelight-transmissive and have substantially equal diameters. The pluralityof thickness adjustment particles 2021 include, for example, any ofsilica beads, which consist of silica, silicone beads, which consist ofsilicone, and glass beads, which consist of glass. Note that theplurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021 may have any shape, aslong as they have equal diameters in one direction, including the formof spheres, the form of oval spheres, the form of flake, the form ofwires, and the form of rods.

Here, in this embodiment, the refractive index of each of the pluralityof thickness adjustment particles 2021 is the same as that of sealingresin 2023. Note that the same refractive index in this embodiment meansthat the refractive index difference is within ±0.1. Therefore, theplurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021 can be arrangeduniformly, randomly, or generally sparsely in phosphor layer 202. As aresult of being sandwiched between first substrate 101 and secondsubstrate 103, the plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021 canaccurately maintain the distance between first substrate 101 and secondsubstrate 103 at a uniform distance that is the thickness (diameter) ofthickness adjustment particle 2021. In this way, the thickness ofphosphor layer 202 which is sandwiched between first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103 can be made uniform.

Note that the gap-maintaining component is not limited to the pluralityof thickness adjustment particles 2021 described above. For example, thegap-maintaining component may be a wire-shaped, ring-shaped, orprotruding thickness adjustment object that is light-transmissive andhas a uniform thickness along the thickness of phosphor layer 202 aslong as the thickness adjustment object can adjust the thickness ofphosphor layer 202 to a uniform thickness. In this case, the thicknessadjustment object may be made of a material that is the same as orsimilar to that of thickness adjustment particle 2021 described above.The wire-shaped, ring-shaped, or protruding thickness adjustment objectwill be described later, and therefore specific description thereof willbe omitted here.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

As described above, in this embodiment, phosphor layer 202 containsthickness adjustment particle 2021. With this, even when wavelengthconversion device 20 is produced by applying phosphor layer 202containing thickness adjustment particle 2021 to first substrate 101 insuch a manner that phosphor layer 202 is sandwiched between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103, the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 can be accurately maintained at auniform distance that is the thickness (diameter) of thicknessadjustment particle 2021. Thus, since the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 can be accurately maintained at auniform distance, the thickness of phosphor layer 202 sandwiched betweenfirst substrate 101 and second substrate 103 can be accurately madeuniform. Accordingly, phosphor layer 202 can be uniformly formed withoutvariation in thickness among wavelength conversion devices 20.

In this manner, in this embodiment, it is possible to provide wavelengthconversion device 20 for laser light which is capable of reducingvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202 and lighting apparatus1B using wavelength conversion device 20 for laser light.

Here, the advantageous effects of wavelength conversion device 20according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 15and FIG. 16. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting apparatusin which wavelength conversion device 90A in Comparative Example 1 ofEmbodiment 2 is used. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of wavelengthconversion device 90A in Comparative Example 1 of Embodiment 2. Notethat the same numerical reference marks are assigned to components thatare the same as or similar to those in FIG. 13, and detailed descriptionthereof will be omitted.

In Comparative Example illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, an example ofwavelength conversion device 90A including first substrate 901A andphosphor layer 902A is illustrated. Here, first substrate 901A islight-transmissive and includes a portion coated by phosphor layer 902A.As the material forming first substrate 901A, it is possible to use anymaterial such as sapphire, ZnO single crystal, AlN, Y₂O₃, SiC,polycrystalline alumina, and GaN, similar to the case of first substrate101. Phosphor layer 902A is provided on first substrate 901A. Phosphorlayer 902A includes: phosphor 9022A which converts the wavelength oflaser light having a predetermined wavelength emitted from laser lightsource; and sealing resin 9023A which seals phosphor 9022A. In otherwords, wavelength conversion device 90A in Comparative Example 1 doesnot include the second substrate, but includes only first substrate901A, and furthermore, phosphor layer 902A does not contain thethickness adjustment particle. Therefore, the thickness of phosphorlayer 902A provided on first substrate 901A cannot be accurately madeuniform, and thus there is the problem that the thickness of phosphorlayer 902A varies among wavelength conversion devices 90A. This causesthe problem of the emission spectrum of phosphor layer 902A changing atthe time of conversion of the wavelength of the laser light emitted bythe laser light source due to variation in the thickness of phosphorlayer 902A among wavelength conversion devices 90A in ComparativeExample 1.

In contrast, for example, phosphor layer 202 in this embodimentillustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 contains the plurality of thicknessadjustment particles 2021 which are light-transmissive and havesubstantially equal diameters, and is provided between and in surfacecontact with first substrate 101 and second substrate 103. This meansthat the thickness of thickness adjustment particle 2021 allows thedistance between first substrate 101 and second substrate 103 to beaccurately maintained at a uniform distance; thus, the thickness ofphosphor layer 202 can be made uniform by the thickness of thicknessadjustment particle 2021.

In this way, phosphor layer 202 can be uniformly formed withoutvariation in thickness among wavelength conversion devices 20, and thusvariation in the emission spectrum of phosphor layer 202 amongwavelength conversion devices 20 can be reduced. As a result, wavelengthconversion device 20 according to this embodiment produces theadvantageous effect of stably producing white light without individualdifferences.

As described above, wavelength conversion device 20 according to thisembodiment is a wavelength conversion device for laser light andincludes: first substrate 101 which is light-transmissive; secondsubstrate 103 which is light-transmissive; and phosphor layer 202 whichis provided between and in surface contact with first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103, and includes phosphor 2022 which converts thewavelength of laser light having a predetermined wavelength emitted froma laser light source, and further includes, between first substrate 101and second substrate 103, a gap-maintaining component which adjusts thethickness of phosphor layer 202. The thermal conductivity of each offirst substrate 101 and second substrate 103 is higher than the thermalconductivity of phosphor layer 202.

With this, phosphor layer 202 can maintain the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 at a uniform distance, and thusvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202 can be reduced.

Here, the gap-maintaining component is the plurality oflight-transmissive thickness adjustment particles 2021 havingsubstantially equal diameters, and the plurality of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021 are contained in phosphor layer 202.

With this, phosphor layer 202 can maintain the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 at a uniform distance by thethickness (diameter) of thickness adjustment particle 2021, and thusvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202 can be reduced. Thisproduces the advantageous effect of being able to reduce variation inthe emission spectrum in the case of converting the wavelength of thelaser light emitted by the laser light source.

Here, the refractive index of each of the plurality of thicknessadjustment particles 2021 is the same as that of sealing resin 2023which seals phosphor 2022 in phosphor layer 202.

With this, thickness adjustment particle 2021 does not deflect orreflect, at the boundary or the like between thickness adjustmentparticle 2021 and sealing resin 2023, the laser light emitted tophosphor layer 202. Stated differently, the impact thickness adjustmentparticle 2021 has on the behavior of the laser light emitted to phosphorlayer 202 is equivalent to the impact sealing resin 2023 has thereon.Therefore, phosphor layer 202 can contain thickness adjustment particles2021 uniformly, randomly, or sparsely throughout phosphor layer 202.

The plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021 include, forexample, any of silica beads, which consist of silica, silicone beads,which consist of silicone, and glass beads, which consist of glass.

With this, it is possible to produce the plurality of thicknessadjustment particles 2021 which are light-transmissive and havesubstantially equal diameters.

The gap-maintaining component may be a wire-shaped, ring-shaped, orprotruding thickness adjustment object that is light-transmissive andhas a uniform thickness along the thickness of phosphor layer 202.

With this, phosphor layer 202 can maintain the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 at a uniform distance, and thusvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202 can be reduced.

The laser light source emits blue laser light as the laser light havinga predetermined wavelength. Phosphor layer 202 converts the wavelengthof part of the blue laser light into light in a wavelength rangerepresenting yellow light.

With this, wavelength conversion device 20 can produce white light byconverting the wavelength of the blue laser light.

(Variation)

In Embodiment 2 described above, the sealing resin and the thicknessadjustment particle included in the phosphor layer have the samerefractive index, but this is not limiting. The sealing resin and thethickness adjustment particle included in the phosphor layer may havedifferent refractive indices. Hereinafter, an example in this case willbe described as a variation, focusing on the points that differ fromEmbodiment 2.

[Wavelength Conversion Device 20A]

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an example of wavelength conversiondevice 20A in a variation of Embodiment 2. FIG. 18 is a diagramillustrating an example of materials included in phosphor layer 202A inthe variation of Embodiment 2. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagramillustrating an arrangement example of thickness adjustment particles2021A contained in phosphor layer 202A illustrated in FIG. 17. Note thatthe same numerical reference marks are assigned to components that arethe same as or similar to those in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, and detaileddescription thereof will be omitted.

Wavelength conversion device 20A illustrated in FIG. 17 is differentfrom wavelength conversion device 20 illustrated in FIG. 13 in terms ofthe configuration of phosphor layer 202A. Furthermore, wavelengthconversion device 20A includes a gap-maintaining component which adjuststhe thickness of phosphor layer 202A between first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103, as in Embodiment 1.

(Phosphor Layer 202A)

Phosphor layer 202A is provided between and in surface contact withfirst substrate 101 and second substrate 103. Phosphor layer 202Aincludes phosphor 2022 which converts the wavelength of the laser lighthaving a predetermined wavelength emitted thereto from the laser lightsource. Here, the gap-maintaining component is a plurality oflight-transmissive thickness adjustment particles 2021A havingsubstantially equal diameters, and the plurality of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021A are contained in phosphor layer 202A.

Also in this variation, phosphor layer 202A produces white light that isobtained through the color mixing of yellow light resulting fromphosphor 2022 converting part of the blue laser light emitted from thelaser light source, and the remaining part of said blue laser light, andemits the white light. As illustrated in FIG. 17 and FIG. 19, phosphorlayer 202A is formed in a tabular shape, for example, and contains theplurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A, the plurality ofphosphors 2022, and sealing resin 2023. Although described later, theplurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A illustrated in FIG. 17and FIG. 19 are different from the plurality of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021A illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 in terms ofarrangement in phosphor layer 202A.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, sealing resin 2023 is a resin such assilicone or liquid glass and seals phosphor 2022 in phosphor layer 202A.Furthermore, sealing resin 2023 seals thickness adjustment particles2021A.

The plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A arelight-transmissive and have substantially equal diameters. Asillustrated in FIG. 18, the plurality of thickness adjustment particles2021A may be, for example, silica beads, which consist of silica,silicone beads, which consist of silicone, or glass beads, which consistof glass.

In this variation, when sealing resin 2023 includes silicone, forexample, each of the plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021Aincludes a glass bead or a silica bead. In other words, the refractiveindex of each of the plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021Ais different from that of sealing resin 2023. This means that thicknessadjustment particle 2021A deflects or reflects, at the boundary or thelike between thickness adjustment particle 2021A and sealing resin 2023,the laser light emitted to phosphor layer 202A. Specifically, thicknessadjustment particle 2021A has an impact on the behavior of the laserlight emitted to phosphor layer 202A. Therefore, since phosphor layer202A has an impact on the behavior of the laser light emitted tophosphor layer 202A, phosphor layer 202A cannot uniformly, randomly, orgenerally sparsely contain thickness adjustment particles 2021A eachhaving a refractive index difference from that of sealing resin 2023.

In view of this, in this variation, the plurality of thicknessadjustment particles 2021A are arranged in positions at least apredetermined distance away from the spot position, on phosphor layer202A, of the laser light emitted thereto, in top view. Here, the spotposition is where the spot diameter of the laser light is present on theirradiation surface of phosphor layer 202A.

For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 19, the plurality ofthickness adjustment particles 2021A are arranged in positions away fromthe spot position, in a ring pattern centered on the spot position, intop view. Note that the plurality of thickness adjustment particles2021A may be arranged on phosphor layer 202A other than a region apredetermined distance away from the spot position in top view so thatthe plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A are arranged inpositions away from the spot position.

Note that, similar to Embodiment 2 described above, as a result of beingsandwiched between first substrate 101 and second substrate 103, theplurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A can accuratelymaintain the distance between first substrate 101 and second substrate103 at a uniform distance that is the thickness (diameter) of thicknessadjustment particle 2021A. Thus, the thickness of phosphor layer 202Awhich is sandwiched between first substrate 101 and second substrate 103can be made uniform.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

As described above, in this variation, phosphor layer 202A containsthickness adjustment particle 2021A. With this, even when wavelengthconversion device 20A is produced by applying phosphor layer 202Acontaining thickness adjustment particle 2021A to first substrate 101 insuch a manner that phosphor layer 202A is sandwiched between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103, the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 can be accurately maintained at auniform distance that is the thickness (diameter) of thicknessadjustment particle 2021A. Thus, since the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 can be accurately maintained at auniform distance, the thickness of phosphor layer 202A sandwichedbetween first substrate 101 and second substrate 103 can be accuratelymade uniform. Accordingly, phosphor layer 202A can be uniformly formedwithout variation in thickness among wavelength conversion devices 20A.

In this manner, in this variation, it is possible to provide wavelengthconversion device 20A for laser light which is capable of reducingvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202A and a lightingapparatus using wavelength conversion device 20A for laser light.

Here, the advantageous effects of wavelength conversion device 20Aaccording to this variation will be described with reference to FIG. 20.FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement example ofthickness adjustment particles 2021B contained in phosphor layer 202B inComparative Example 2 of Embodiment 2. The same numerical referencemarks are assigned to components that are the same as or similar tothose in FIG. 19, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In Comparative Example 2 illustrated in FIG. 20, an example is shown inwhich, when the refractive index of each of the plurality of thicknessadjustment particles 2021B is different from that of sealing resin 2023,thickness adjustment particles 2021B are generally sparsely arranged inphosphor layer 202B. Note that thickness adjustment particles 2021B andthickness adjustment particles 2021A are the same except arrangementthereof. In other words, the arrangement of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021B illustrated in Comparative Example 2 results inthickness adjustment particles 2021B having an impact on the behavior ofthe laser light emitted to phosphor layer 202B. This is because, sincethickness adjustment particle 2021B has a different refractive indexfrom sealing resin 2023, thickness adjustment particle 2021B deflects orreflects, at the boundary or the like between thickness adjustmentparticle 2021B and sealing resin 2023, the laser light emitted tophosphor layer 202B.

In contrast, in phosphor layer 202A in this variation illustrated inFIG. 19, for example, the plurality of thickness adjustment particles2021A are arranged in positions at least a predetermined distance awayfrom the spot position, on phosphor layer 202A, of the laser lightemitted thereto, in top view. In phosphor layer 202A in this variation,this arrangement makes it possible to prevent thickness adjustmentparticles 2021A from having an impact on the behavior of the laser lightemitted to phosphor layer 202A. This is because, since thicknessadjustment particles 2021A are not arranged in a region where yellowlight resulting from excitation by one part of the blue laser lightemitted to phosphor layer 202B and the other part of the blue laserlight that is transmitted are dispersed and mixed, thickness adjustmentparticles 2021A have no impact on the behavior of light in the region.

As described above, wavelength conversion device 20A according to thisvariation is a wavelength conversion device for laser light andincludes: first substrate 101 which is light-transmissive; secondsubstrate 103 which is light-transmissive; and phosphor layer 202A whichis provided between and in surface contact with first substrate 101 andsecond substrate 103, and includes phosphor 2022 which converts thewavelength of laser light having a predetermined wavelength emitted froma laser light source, and further includes, between first substrate 101and second substrate 103, a gap-maintaining component which adjusts thethickness of phosphor layer 202A. The thermal conductivity of each offirst substrate 101 and second substrate 103 is higher than the thermalconductivity of phosphor layer 202A.

With this, phosphor layer 202A can maintain the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 at a uniform distance, and thusvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202A can be reduced.

Here, the gap-maintaining component is a plurality of light-transmissivethickness adjustment particles 2021A having substantially equaldiameters, and the plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A arecontained in phosphor layer 202A.

With this, phosphor layer 202A can maintain the distance between firstsubstrate 101 and second substrate 103 at a uniform distance by thethickness (diameter) of thickness adjustment particle 2021A, and thusvariation in the thickness of phosphor layer 202A can be reduced. Thisproduces the advantageous effect of being able to reduce variation inthe emission spectrum in the case of converting the wavelength of thelaser light emitted by the laser light source.

Here, the refractive index of each of the plurality of thicknessadjustment particles 2021A is different from that of sealing resin 2023which seals phosphor 2022 in phosphor layer 202A. The plurality ofthickness adjustment particles 2021A are arranged in positions away fromthe spot position of the incident laser light on phosphor layer 202A intop view.

With this, it is possible to prevent thickness adjustment particles2021A from having an impact on the behavior of the laser light emittedto phosphor layer 202A.

For example, the plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A maybe arranged in positions at least a predetermined distance away from thespot position, in a ring pattern centered on the spot position, in topview. Furthermore, for example, the plurality of thickness adjustmentparticles 2021A may be arranged on phosphor layer 202A other than aregion a predetermined distance away from the spot position in top viewso that the plurality of thickness adjustment particles 2021A arearranged in positions the predetermined distance away from the spotposition.

In this way, thickness adjustment particles 2021A are not arranged inthe region where the laser light emitted to phosphor layer 202A exists,and thus have no impact on the behavior of light in the region. Thismeans that it is possible to prevent thickness adjustment particles2021A from having an impact on the behavior of the laser light emittedto phosphor layer 202A.

In this variation, the gap-maintaining component is described as theplurality of thickness adjustment particles arranged as illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 19, but this is not limiting. The gap-maintainingcomponent may be any of those arranged as illustrated in FIG. 21 to FIG.23; hereinafter, description thereof will be given with reference to thefigures. Each of FIG. 21 to FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustratinganother example of the gap-maintaining component in a variation ofEmbodiment 2. Note that the same numerical reference marks are assignedto components that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 19, anddetailed description thereof will be omitted.

As illustrate in FIG. 21, gap-maintaining component 2021C may be awire-shaped thickness adjustment object that is light-transmissive andhas a uniform thickness along the thickness of phosphor layer 202C. Alsoin this case, it is sufficient that gap-maintaining component 2021C bearranged in a position away from the spot position of the emitted laserlight on phosphor layer 202C in top view. Note that gap-maintainingcomponent 2021C may or may not be contained in phosphor layer 202C.

As illustrate in FIG. 22, gap-maintaining component 2021D may be aring-shaped thickness adjustment object that is light-transmissive andhas a uniform thickness along the thickness of phosphor layer 202D. Alsoin this case, it is sufficient that gap-maintaining component 2021D bearranged in a position at least a predetermined distance away from thespot position of the emitted laser light on phosphor layer 202D in topview. Note that gap-maintaining component 2021D may or may not becontained in phosphor layer 202D.

As illustrate in FIG. 23, gap-maintaining component 2021E may be aprotruding thickness adjustment object that is light-transmissive andhas a uniform thickness along the thickness of phosphor layer 202E. Alsoin this case, it is sufficient that gap-maintaining component 2021E bearranged in a position away from the spot position of the emitted laserlight on phosphor layer 202E in top view. Note that gap-maintainingcomponent 2021E may or may not be contained in phosphor layer 202E.

Embodiment 3

Embodiment 1, etc., have described: the wavelength conversion device forlaser light which is capable of increasing the heat dissipation effectby sandwiching a phosphor layer, namely, phosphor layer 102, etc.,between first substrate 101 and second substrate 103 each of which has ahigher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of thephosphor layer; and the lighting apparatus using the wavelengthconversion device for laser light. This is because this configurationallows heat generated in the phosphor layer to be reliably dissipated tothe outside through by first substrate 101 and second substrate 103.

This embodiment will describe: a wavelength conversion device for laserlight which is capable of further increasing the heat dissipation effectby equipping the second substrate with a lens function; and a lightingapparatus using the wavelength conversion device for laser light.

[Lighting Apparatus]

Hereinafter, a lighting apparatus will be described first as an exampleof an application product using a wavelength conversion device in thisembodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of lighting apparatus 1C inwhich wavelength conversion device 30 in this embodiment is used. FIG.25 is a cross-sectional view of lighting apparatus 1C illustrated inFIG. 24. Note that the same numerical reference marks are assigned tocomponents that are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 1 and FIG.2, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Lighting apparatus 1C illustrated in FIG. 24 is different from lightingapparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 in terms of the configurations ofwavelength conversion device 30 and heat-dissipating plate 12C.

[Heat-Dissipating Plate 12C]

Heat-dissipating plate 12C is different from heat-dissipating plate 12illustrated in FIG. 1 in terms of the size of opening 121C.

Opening 121C is for allowing passage of the white light emitted fromwavelength conversion device 30 so that the white light is emitted tothe outside of lighting apparatus 1C. Opening 121C is located on anoptical path of the laser light emitted from the laser light source.Furthermore, opening 121C is larger in size than second substrate 303 ofwavelength conversion device 30 and is provided in such a manner thatsecond substrate 303 is exposed. Accordingly, the white light emittedfrom wavelength conversion device 30 is emitted to the outside oflighting apparatus 1C through opening 121C.

[Wavelength Conversion Device 30]

As illustrated in FIG. 25, wavelength conversion device 30, which is awavelength conversion device for laser light, includes first substrate101, phosphor layer 102, and second substrate 303. Wavelength conversiondevice 30 illustrated in FIG. 25 is different from wavelength conversiondevice 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 in terms of the configuration of secondsubstrate 303. Note that when lighting apparatus 1C is used for anendoscope or the like, wavelength conversion device 30 corresponds to alight source means which uses laser light, as with wavelength conversiondevice 10 and the like.

(Second Substrate 303)

Second substrate 303 is different from second substrate 103 illustratedin FIG. 2 in that second substrate 303 is shaped like a hemisphericallens protruding away from first substrate 101. Stated differently,second substrate 303 is different from second substrate 103 illustratedin FIG. 2 in that second substrate 303 further includes a hemisphericallens function.

The other points are substantially the same as those of second substrate103 illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, second substrate 303 is insurface contact with a portion on which phosphor layer 102 is providedand is irradiated with white light emitted from phosphor layer 102.Furthermore, second substrate 303 is, for example, a sapphire substratewhich is light-transmissive and has a thermal conductivity higher thanthe thermal conductivity of phosphor layer 102.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

The advantageous effects of wavelength conversion device 30 according tothis embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 26 and FIG. 27.FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing white light emitted by wavelengthconversion device 10 in a comparative example of Embodiment 3. FIG. 27is a diagram for describing white light emitted by wavelength conversiondevice 30 in this embodiment. Note that FIG. 26 illustrates wavelengthconversion device 10 in Embodiment 1 as a comparative example. The samenumerical reference marks are assigned to components that are the sameas or similar to those in FIG. 2, FIG. 25, etc., and detaileddescription thereof will be omitted.

Wavelength conversion device 10 illustrated in FIG. 26 includes secondsubstrate 103 in a tabular shape as described in Embodiment 1. Each offirst substrate 101 and second substrate 103 is a light-transmissivesapphire substrate, and wavelength conversion device 10 is irradiatedwith light (L1 in the figure) having a predetermined wavelength emittedfrom the laser light source. Phosphor layer 102 emits white light (L2 inthe figure) resulting from color (wavelength) conversion of the lighthaving a predetermined wavelength emitted from the laser light source.

Second substrate 103 configured as described above is formed of asapphire substrate that is highly light-transmissive and has a highthermal conductivity, thus allowing passage of most of the white lightemitted from phosphor layer 102, to emit the white light to opening 121of heat-dissipating plate 12. Furthermore, since the thermalconductivity of second substrate 103 is higher than the thermalconductivity of phosphor layer 102, second substrate 103 can transmitheat generated by phosphor layer 102 upon converting the color of thelight, and disperse the heat into the air.

However, since the refractive index of sapphire is as high asapproximately 1.8, the critical angle at the interface between the airand second substrate 103 formed in a tabular shape becomes small. Inother words, as illustrated in FIG. 26, when the angle (incidence angle)of white light entering second substrate 103 from phosphor layer 102 isgreater than a predetermined value, total reflection occurs, and thewhite light is enclosed in second substrate 103, causing a loss oflight.

In contrast, wavelength conversion device 30 illustrated in FIG. 27includes second substrate 303 shaped like a hemispherical lensprotruding away from first substrate 101. Each of first substrate 101and second substrate 303 is a light-transmissive sapphire substrate, andwavelength conversion device 30 is irradiated with light (L1 in thefigure) having a predetermined wavelength emitted from the laser lightsource. Phosphor layer 102 emits white light (L2, L21, and L22 in thefigure) resulting from color (wavelength) conversion of the light havinga predetermined wavelength emitted from the laser light source.

Second substrate 303 configured as described above includes ahemispherical lens function in addition to the feature of being formedof a sapphire substrate that is highly light-transmissive and has a highthermal conductivity. With this, even though the refractive index ofsapphire is as high as approximately 1.8, by shaping second substrate303 like a hemispherical lens, the critical angle at the interfacebetween second substrate 303 and the air can be made large, and thus itis possible to reduce light that is enclosed in second substrate 303.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 27, even when the angle (incidenceangle) of the white light entering second substrate 303 from phosphorlayer 102 is greater than a predetermined value, there is no longerwhite light that causes total reflection (the white light is notenclosed in second substrate 303), and thus the loss of light can bereduced. Therefore, wavelength conversion device 30 can further increasethe light extraction efficiency, compared to wavelength conversiondevice 10.

Furthermore, as a result of second substrate 303 being shaped like ahemispherical lens, the interface between second substrate 303 and theair is large, and thus the heat transmitted from phosphor layer 102 canfurther be dispersed into the air. Therefore, wavelength conversiondevice 30 can further increase the heat dissipation effect, compared towavelength conversion device 10.

As described above, in this embodiment, second substrate 303 is shapedlike a hemispherical lens protruding away from first substrate 101. Withthis, wavelength conversion device 30 including second substrate 303 canfurther increase the light extraction efficiency and the heatdissipation effect.

Note that in this embodiment, wavelength conversion device 30 isdescribed as including phosphor layer 102, but this is not limiting.Wavelength conversion device 30 may include phosphor layer 202 or thelike.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has described an example in thecase where wavelength conversion device 30 includes second substrate 303shaped like a hemispherical lens to equip second substrate 303 with alens function, this is not limiting. It is also possible to equip secondsubstrate 303 with a lens function by forming second substrate 303 intoa shape different from the shape of the hemispherical lens, for example,the shape of an aspheric lens or the shape of a microlens. These caseswill be described below as variations.

(Variation 1)

FIG. 28 is another cross-sectional view of lighting apparatus 1Cillustrated in FIG. 24. Note that the same numerical reference marks areassigned to components that are the same as or similar to those in FIG.1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 25, and detailed description thereof will beomitted.

[Wavelength Conversion Device 30A]

As illustrated in FIG. 28, wavelength conversion device 30A, which is awavelength conversion device for laser light, includes first substrate101, phosphor layer 102, and second substrate 303A.

Wavelength conversion device 30A illustrated in FIG. 28 is differentfrom wavelength conversion device 30 illustrated in FIG. 25 in terms ofthe configuration of second substrate 303A.

(Second Substrate 303A)

Second substrate 303A is different from second substrate 303 illustratedin FIG. 25 in that second substrate 303A is shaped like anon-hemispherical lens protruding away from first substrate 101. Stateddifferently, second substrate 303A is different from second substrate103 illustrated in FIG. 2 in that second substrate 303A further includesa non-hemispherical lens function.

The other points are substantially the same as those of second substrate103 illustrated in FIG. 2 and second substrate 303 illustrated in FIG.25, and description thereof will not be repeated here.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

The advantageous effects of wavelength conversion device 30A accordingto this variation will be described with reference to FIG. 27 and FIG.29. FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing white light emitted bywavelength conversion device 30A in Variation 1 of Embodiment 3. Notethat the same numerical reference marks are assigned to components thatare the same as or similar to those in FIG. 2, FIG. 25, and FIG. 27, anddetailed description thereof will be omitted.

Wavelength conversion device 30A illustrated in FIG. 29 includes secondsubstrate 303A shaped like a non-hemispherical lens protruding away fromfirst substrate 101. Each of first substrate 101 and second substrate303A is a light-transmissive sapphire substrate, and wavelengthconversion device 30A is irradiated with light (L1 in the figure) havinga predetermined wavelength emitted from the laser light source. Phosphorlayer 102 emits white light (L2, L23, and L24 in the figure) resultingfrom color (wavelength) conversion of the light having a predeterminedwavelength emitted from the laser light source.

Second substrate 303A configured as described above includes anon-hemispherical half-lens function in addition to the feature of beingformed of a sapphire substrate that is highly light-transmissive and hasa high thermal conductivity. With this, even though the refractive indexof sapphire is as high as approximately 1.8, by shaping second substrate303A like a non-hemispherical half lens, the critical angle at theinterface between second substrate 303A and the air can be made large,and thus it is possible to reduce light that is enclosed in secondsubstrate 303A. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 29, even when theangle (incidence angle) of the white light entering second substrate303A from phosphor layer 102 is greater than a predetermined value,there is no longer white light that causes total reflection (the whitelight is not enclosed in second substrate 303A), and thus the loss oflight can be reduced. Therefore, wavelength conversion device 30A canfurther increase the light extraction efficiency, compared to wavelengthconversion device 10.

Furthermore, as a result of second substrate 303A being shaped like anon-hemispherical half lens, the interface between second substrate 303Aand the air is large, and thus the heat transmitted from phosphor layer102 can further be dispersed into the air. Therefore, wavelengthconversion device 30A can further increase the heat dissipation effect,compared to wavelength conversion device 10.

Furthermore, as a result of second substrate 303A being shaped like anon-hemispherical half lens, the vertex (the lens height along the minoraxis) thereof can be made lower in level than that in the case of beingshaped like a hemispherical lens. Thus, wavelength conversion device 30Acan be more compact than wavelength conversion device 30, and aluminaire or a light source device that incorporates wavelengthconversion device 30A can be made compact.

As described above, in this variation, second substrate 303A is shapedlike a non-hemispherical lens protruding away from first substrate 101.With this, wavelength conversion device 30A including second substrate303A can further increase the light extraction efficiency and the heatdissipation effect.

Note that in this variation, wavelength conversion device 30A isdescribed as including phosphor layer 102, but this is not limiting.Wavelength conversion device 30A may include phosphor layer 202 or thelike, and the same applies to such a case.

(Variation 2)

FIG. 30 is another cross-sectional view of lighting apparatus 1Cillustrated in FIG. 24. Note that the same numerical reference marks areassigned to components that are the same as or similar to those in FIG.1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 25, and detailed description thereof will beomitted.

[Wavelength Conversion Device 30B]

As illustrated in FIG. 30, wavelength conversion device 30B, which is awavelength conversion device for laser light, includes first substrate101, phosphor layer 102, and second substrate 303B.

Wavelength conversion device 30B illustrated in FIG. 30 is differentfrom wavelength conversion device 30 illustrated in FIG. 25 in terms ofthe configuration of second substrate 303B.

(Second Substrate 303B)

Second substrate 303B is different from second substrate 303 illustratedin FIG. 25 in that second substrate 303B is shaped like a lens arrayprotruding away from first substrate 101. Stated differently, secondsubstrate 303B is different from second substrate 103 illustrated inFIG. 2 in that second substrate 303B further includes a microlens arrayfunction.

The other points are substantially the same as those of second substrate103 illustrated in FIG. 2 and second substrate 303 illustrated in FIG.25, and description thereof will not be repeated here.

Advantageous Effects, Etc.

The advantageous effects of wavelength conversion device 30B accordingto this variation will be described with reference to FIG. 27 and FIG.31. FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing white light emitted bywavelength conversion device 30B in Variation 2 of Embodiment 3. Notethat the same numerical reference marks are assigned to components thatare the same as or similar to those in FIG. 2, FIG. 25, and FIG. 27, anddetailed description thereof will be omitted.

Wavelength conversion device 30B illustrated in FIG. 31 includes secondsubstrate 303B shaped like a lens array protruding away from firstsubstrate 101. Each of first substrate 101 and second substrate 303B isa light-transmissive sapphire substrate, and wavelength conversiondevice 30B is irradiated with light (L1 in the figure) having apredetermined wavelength emitted from the laser light source. Phosphorlayer 102 emits white light (L2, L25, and L27 in the figure) resultingfrom color (wavelength) conversion of the light having a predeterminedwavelength emitted from the laser light source.

Second substrate 303B configured as described above includes a microlensarray function in addition to the feature of being formed of a sapphiresubstrate that is highly light-transmissive and has a high thermalconductivity. With this, even though the refractive index of sapphire isas high as approximately 1.8, by shaping second substrate 303B like amicrolens array, the critical angle at the interface between secondsubstrate 303B and the air can be made large, and thus it is possible toreduce light that is enclosed in second substrate 303B. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 31, even when the angle (incidence angle) of thewhite light entering second substrate 303B from phosphor layer 102 isgreater than a predetermined value, there is no longer white light thatcauses total reflection (the white light is not enclosed in secondsubstrate 303B), and thus the loss of light can be reduced. Therefore,wavelength conversion device 30B can further increase the lightextraction efficiency, compared to wavelength conversion device 10.

Furthermore, as a result of second substrate 303B being shaped like amicrolens array, the interface between second substrate 303B and the airis large, and thus the heat transmitted from phosphor layer 102 canfurther be dispersed into the air. Therefore, wavelength conversiondevice 30B can further increase the heat dissipation effect, compared towavelength conversion device 10.

Furthermore, as a result of second substrate 303B being shaped like amicrolens array, the vertex (the lens height along the minor axis)thereof can be made lower in level than that in the case of being shapedlike a hemispherical lens. Thus, wavelength conversion device 30B can bemore compact than wavelength conversion device 30, and a luminaire or alight source device that incorporates wavelength conversion device 30Bcan be made compact.

In addition, it is possible to control light distribution by adjustingthe pitch, diameter, or cross-sectional shape of the microlens array.

As described above, in this variation, second substrate 303B is shapedlike a lens array protruding away from first substrate 101. With this,wavelength conversion device 30B including second substrate 303B canfurther increase the light extraction efficiency and the heatdissipation effect.

Note that in this variation, wavelength conversion device 30B isdescribed as including phosphor layer 102, but this is not limiting.Wavelength conversion device 30B may include phosphor layer 202 or thelike, and the same applies to such a case.

Other Embodiments, Etc.

Although the wavelength conversion device for laser light and thelighting apparatus according to the present invention have beendescribed based on embodiments, the present invention is not limited tothe above-described embodiments.

Each of the above-described embodiments is merely one example, andvarious modifications, additions, and omissions are possible.

Furthermore, forms realized by arbitrarily combining structuralcomponents and functions shown in the above-described embodiments areincluded in the scope of the present invention. Forms obtained byvarious modifications to each of the foregoing embodiments that can beconceived by a person of skill in the art as well as forms realized byarbitrarily combining structural components and functions in each of theembodiments which are within the scope of the essence of the presentinvention are included in the present invention.

For example, a lighting apparatus using wavelength conversion device 10,etc., for laser light in the foregoing embodiment is included in thepresent invention. Using wavelength conversion device 10, etc., forlaser light in the foregoing embodiment in a lighting apparatus enablesfurther decrease in size than with a lighting apparatus using an LEDlight source.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wavelength conversion device for laserlight, comprising: a laser light source that emits laser light having apredetermined wavelength; a first substrate that is light-transmissive;a second substrate that is light-transmissive; a phosphor layer providedbetween and in surface contact with the first substrate and the secondsubstrate, the phosphor layer converting a wavelength of the laser lightfrom the laser light source which is incident on the phosphor layer; anda gap-maintaining component located between the first substrate and thesecond substrate, the gap-maintaining component adjusting a thickness ofthe phosphor layer by maintaining a uniform distance between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate, wherein each of the first substrateand the second substrate has a thermal conductivity higher than athermal conductivity of the phosphor layer, the gap-maintainingcomponent is a plurality of thickness adjustment particles that arelight-transmissive and have a shape having a substantially equaldiameter, and the shape is one of wire-shaped, ring-shaped, andprotruding.
 2. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 1,wherein each of the first substrate and the second substrate is asapphire substrate.
 3. The wavelength conversion device according toclaim 2, wherein the second substrate is further shaped like ahemispherical lens protruding away from the first substrate.
 4. Thewavelength conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the secondsubstrate is further shaped like an aspheric lens protruding away fromthe first substrate.
 5. The wavelength conversion device according toclaim 2, wherein the second substrate is further shaped like a lensarray protruding away from the first substrate.
 6. The wavelengthconversion device according to claim 1, wherein the laser light sourceemits blue laser light as the laser light having the predeterminedwavelength, and the phosphor layer converts a wavelength of part of theblue laser light to light in a wavelength range representing yellowlight.
 7. A light apparatus, comprising: the wavelength conversiondevice according to claim 1.